February School Board session explores Indigenous Food Security, Budget themes

 

Following the SD52 land acknowledgement from Board Chair Kate Toye, the first presentation on the night came from Christian Leighton who relayed a number of themes from the Food Sovereignty program at Charles Hays Secondary School.

Through that program, students experienced a range of Food Sovereignty themes, with a significant focus on an Indigenous perspective; included in the presentation was how it makes use of local resources and mentors in the community to teach students life long skills.

Trustees gained some extensive insight about the program and what's coming in the future, including work on the Smokehouse Project.

Also in the plans this year a field trip for the students to follow the eulachon run.

The Presentation also highlighted some of the work on Food Security themes from Pacific Coast School.

Following the presentation, Trustees had much in the way of praise for the work taking place in the Schools and the enthusiasm that students have for the learning opportunities.
 

Towards the main agenda, the evening opened with a look at some correspondences including one, that revoked  the status of a former Fraser Valley Trustee, Barry Neufeld, who had made some incendiary comments in 2023. 

He was stripped of his honorary life membership as a result of controversial comments made last year.

That a move that was noted with approval by SD52 Trustee Kristy Maier. 

For reports, the trustees reviewed some of the field trips ahead for students,  there were some concerns noted relate to the ski conditions at Shames Mountain. 

As well as enrolment trends over a six year period for the School District. he 2023-24 numbers trending to just above the 1,861 student mark as of January, which is up from December 31st. 

Something  it was noted which will have the Board watching with interest to the end of the schoolyear. 

Sandra Pond also provided a review of Indigenous Implementation Day, as well she highlighted some of the work and activities taking place as part of the School District's Indigenous program. 

She also highlighted some of the activities related to the French Immersion program with the District as well as ambitions for Day Care in the District and the current state of the after school program.

Operations and Information Technology reports were also introduced for the Board members.

The most extensive discussion on the night came out of the Board's work on their Amended Annual Budget process for 2023-24.

Secretary-Treasurer Brittany Verissimo and Superintendent Andrew Samoil reviewed the events of the Strategic plan and how it impacts on the Budget amendment. 

With the 2023-24 Budget projecting a surplus of $607,586. 

That largely related to a one time return of planning costs for the Middle School by the Province.

Salary increases were noted by the Secretary-Treasurer as one key element of the Board's finances looking ahead, while Trustees asked questions related to some of the Special purpose funds spending and budgeting.

It was noted that costs were higher owing to the slight increase in enrolment, though the District sill is seeing reduced amounts from the Ministry.

The work of the February 20th session brought forward the bylaw approval which was required by the province by the end of last month. 

The Budget  process  continues into the Preliminary Budget for this year, which will move forward through to the final three readings to come before the school year ends in June.

Trustee Horne noted that as part of that review the District needs to develop a spending reduction plan to address those issues in the years ahead. 

Trustee Maier had questions towards the expenses listed towards supplies and how sustainable that could be, it was noted that for this year some of the supplies elements were offset from funding through the Middle School Project Planning reimbursement.

The Board then adopted the Amended Budget with the Bylaw to be forwarded to the Province.

The topic of Board remuneration was next for the Board members. After a short conversation on the topic, including notes on how they were transparent towards the process; the members of the Board approved on the Report to award an increase to their pay packages, with the retro date of January.

Among their observations to the topic was the fairness of the process and a need to ensure that the salary structure was such that they would  attract strong candidates in future board elections.

A  brief review of the Prince Rupert Middle School project and the Open House related to it was provided by Superintendent Andrew Samoil, who outlined a range of elements that were discussed as part of that session with the architects.

The Open House attracted around 25 participants who asked questions and raised some concerns related to the proposed project.

Included as part of the process was a dinner with Trustees, the architects were planning to return to Prince Rupert in early March for further consultation with stakeholders.

Updates on the Project can be reviewed here.

Policy approvals and review of policies followed on the Agenda, Trustee Janet Beil expressed her opposition to the Salary increase provisions outlined in the policy plans.

Just prior to the close Trustee Maier paid tribute to the number of Sports Teams at Charles Hays Secondary that had found success through February. She also hailed the work of the Drama Department and their success.

Board Chair Toye also noted of the participation of the students during the All Native Tournament.

The upcoming Spring Break staring March 16th was noted as including the Easter Weekend, which makes for a longer period away from the schools, with the return to class to take place on Tuesday April 2. 

Trustee Pucci noted of the upcoming All Native Junior Tournament in Terrace in March.

You can examine some of the background documentation to the February meeting here.

You can review the full meeting from Febraury 20th through the SD52 video feed. 

The Budget discussion and conversation on board member remuneration starts from the one hour mark of the video 

The Next SD52 Board meeting is scheduled for March 11th at the Meeting Space in the Booth Building adjacent to Lax Kxeen School.

More notes related to Education  in Prince Rupert is available here, a wider overview of Education themes in the Northwest can be found here.